Free-up space in devices

Photo Credit: Ctrl.blog

Now-a-days life is impossible without devices like - smartphones, laptops, desktops or tablet computers. These not only store vital information for our day-to day use but also for our professional and personal usage. With regular use, the internal memory of these gets filled up resulting in them getting slow and giving inadequate results. Generally, a mid-range smartphone (priced between ₹15,000 to ₹35,000) provides up to 128GB to 1TB of internal memory. This is used for installed apps, storing files, pictures, videos etc. This generally occupies approx. 45-50% of the memory. However, with the passage of time, this memory space shrinks as more files whether PDF, music, videos or pictures files taken from camera or downloaded, gets accumulated in them. Similar, is the case with tablet computers or laptops. Tablet computers, mid-sized, come with approximately 512GB to 1TB of storage while laptops come with memories and storages in the range of 512GB to 2TB. But both these get less storage space as files downloaded or created gets saved. As a result, the devices get slow in starting up, in saving newer files or in displaying necessary apps for use. Additionally, updates to either the Windows or Android, Mac or iOS and the apps get delayed or halted which also affects their performances. Thus, it becomes necessary to free up space in the devices in order to store newer files, pictures or install updates and apps. Here are some of the procedures-   

1) Inbuilt Apps for freeing up storage space - Most devices - smartphones, tablet computers or laptops have in-built tools or apps to help delete junk files taking up memory space. Samsung has apps like Device Care to optimize space and free up memory. Others have Store Manager or the Storage tools that help clear cache memory or junk to get more space. Similarly, Files by Google for Android also serves the same. For Windows laptop or tablet computers we have Disk Cleanup and Storage Sense to free space efficiently. Similarly, commands in the Run app like %temp%, c:\windows\system32\cleanmgr.exe, cleanmgr, Disk CleanUp, or hitting Ctrl+Shift+Del can help a lot.

2) Use of cloud apps like Google Drive, OneDrive etc. - The Google Drive app found in Android devices, OneDrive from Microsoft or the iCloud app for iOS etc. are the apps that provide large storage space ranging from 2GB, 15GB or 2TB to store data. We can simply locate the files - pictures, text, PDF or music files etc. - move them (not just copy/paste) and free-up storage. These have paid as well as free to use services. We have to log in or signup using Google or Microsoft accounts to access. These provide large free storage spaces for other apps or updates in our devices.

3) Move files to an external Hard Disk or SSD Drive: - External hard disk or SSD (Solid State Disk) drives are a wonderful means to free up storage space for laptops, tablet computers or even smartphones. With capacities ranging from 256GB to 12TB, these portable drives can be easily connected to laptops, tablet computers or even smartphones to free up space. Once connected these drives appear as external storage like F:\, G:\ drives etc. We can move files, folders of almost all types from our devices to them and make available free storage. With huge volumes like 1TB or 2TB, we can move a sizeable amount of data to the drives very fast and with ease. We can also connect them to retrieve such data (files, folder etc.) for use any time in the future. HDDs nowadays cost between ₹1500 to ₹12,000 while SSDs come in between ₹10,000 to ₹20,000 depending upon storage capacities.

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4) Addition or use of memory cards: - In laptops or desktops we can install additional RAM cards to enhance memory. RAM cards of 512GB, 1TB or more can be installed in devices to enhance memory space. Alternatively, we can replace old RAM cards with newer cards of more capacity of storage. In tablet computers, we can insert external memory cards in the memory card slots with an adaptor if needed, having capacities of 256GB to 2TB to enhance memory space. Similarly, memory cards can also be inserted in smartphones to enhance memory space. Described as external storage these can enhance space from usually 2GB to 1TB. This enhances memory space to store more data or files.  

5) Manual deletion of files, folders etc.: - One of the most laborious, time-consuming and traditional methods to free up memory space in devices is the manual deletion of files, folders etc. We can select files present in folders such as Picture Galleries, video folders, document folders or the app folders and delete any file or subfolder deemed unnecessary, garbage or occupying large memory space. Thus, we can free up necessary space. This process being laborious, time-consuming as well as probably the most primitive methods is a freedom on its own. We can select files/folders at our will and delete them according to our wish and necessity.

Since smartphones, laptops or tablet computers are ubiquitous nowadays for almost all purposes we cannot but store necessary files in them. Selecting and deleting files and the use of any of these methods can help reduce the memory shortages and give us the necessary memory space to add new files or apps on to the devices. My most preferable method is moving files to cloud apps viz. Google Drive, OneDrive etc. We can get a lot of extra storage, easily move files/folders and retrieve them, when necessary, through downloading from the respective apps.